Polygraph



Oct. 23, 1923. 1,472,016

0. E. DRESSLER POLYGRAPH Filed Sept. 22'. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 all 1 av /MAM 351 M4 flbtowcq Oct-23,1923. 1,472,016

C. E. DRESSLER POLYGRAPH Filed Sept. 22. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 23, 1923.

v C. E. DRESSLER POLYGRAPH Filed Sept. 22, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 23, 1923.

UNITED STATES CHARLES E. DRESSLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

POLYGRAPI-I.

Application filed September 28, 1921. Serial No. 503,794.

[ (17/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. DnEssLEn,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Polygraphs, .of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to improvements in ink polygraphs or pulse wave recorders. (huobject of the invention is to provide a polygraph in the form of a self-contained unit or apparatus adapted to be carried about in convenient form, and one which may properly be called a ready set up apparatus. requiring no lengthy or complicated assembling process before it may be used by the physician.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a polygraph which may be used in combination with a blood pressure recorder for recording the blood pressure of the patient simultaneously with the recording of the pulse waves, or so arately therefrom.

Other objects 0 the invention are to provide a generally improved polygraph contail-ling certain novel features of construction, design and arrangement whereby the.

usefulness of the apparatus is greatly increased.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear hereinafter, my invention is embodied in a'polygraph as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an ink polygraphemhodying m invention with parts omitted and parts broken away.

v Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the polygraph with parts omitted and parts in section.

-Fig. 3 is a right side view of one of the tambours used in the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of a tambour with parts in section.

Fig. 5 is a left side view of the tambour.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the means of mounting the tambour diaphragms.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the mounting of the recording pin on the torsional springs.

Fig. 8. is a detail view showing the manner of supporting one end of the torsional spring. r

Fig. 9 is a, side view of a wrist sphygmogrzitph used for recording the radial or wrist pu se.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the wrist sphyg niograph with parts broken away.

.Fig. 1.1 is a front view of the polygraph with blood pressure recorder attached, and details omitted.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic outline View of the polygraph, blood pressure recorder and attachments.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the reference uun'ieral 1 denotes a base or bottom preferably of wood which supports the apparatus. A box like cover 2 is provided which fits over said base 1, so that the apparatus may be carried about or covered when not in use. Suitable catches or looks 3, 3 may be used to lock the cover to the base.

The numeral 4 denotes a motor casing or cover mounted on the base 1 and with-in said casing is contained a suitable motor or source of power. represented by a spring 6 adapted to be wound by a handle 7, Figure 1, inserted in the casing to wind the spring 6 through suitable gearing 8. Through properly arranged and designed gearing as at 9 the spring motor drives the paper feed roller 10 which preferably is knurled and which projects slightly above the casing 4 through a slot 11, in Figure 1. 12 is a suitable lever for starting and stopping the spring motor 6 through proper connections, not shown. The speed at which the paper feed roller is driven may be regulated, adjusted and controlled by a governor 13 operable through a link 14 and shaft 15 having a knob 16 outside the casing. Also contained within the casing 4 is a ticker 4 mechanism or lockwork comprising a source of power, to wit a spring motor 17 adapted to be wound by a shaft 18 which carries a knob 19 outside the casing. Through a clockwork or gearing 20, the motor 17 operates a ticker 21 which projects upwards through the casing 4:. The numeral 22 denotes a lever for starting and stopping the ticker movement.

. The handle 7 may be detached and held by aclip 24 and loop 25 when not wanted and forconvenience in carrying the apparatus, see Fig. 1.

On the casing 4 is detachably mounted a paper roll holder 26 by means of a screw 27. A roll of pa er 28 is rotatably held by the holder 26. (En top of the casmg 4 there is secured two bearings 29 and 30 in which are journaled a paper tension roller 31, the pressure of which may be adjusted by screws 32, and a paper weight roller 33. The paper which preferably is lazed to reduce friction is drawn from t e paper roller, over the feed roller 10 and below the rollers 31 and 33.

Extending forwardly from the casing 4 and secured thereto is a bracket 35 the forward end of which is secured to a post 36.

In the latter and extending to one side thereof is secured a tambour supporting bar 37 by mean of a screw 38. The tambour supporting bar 37 supports threetambours together with their adjusting mechanisms as follows. The description of one tambour sufiices for all of them as they are alike.

The three tambours are marked 39, 40 and 41. Referring to Figures 3 t0 8 for details, each tambour consists of a back 42 forming a hollow chamber 43 and provided with an annular groove 44 on its outer circular surface. A rigid rubber tube stem 45 communicates with the chamber 43 as shown. 46 denotes an elastic diaphragm which is secured to the back 42 by a ring 47 having an inner annular head 48. In assembling, the diaphragm is placed over the back and the ring snapped into place fitting tightly around the back and securely gripping or. pinching the diaphragm between the groove and the bead and holding it airtight on the tambour without stretching the diaphragm. This particular method of holding the diaphragm is novel in this art and is superior to other means such as screw threads or the like for clamping purposes. Another advantage is, that the diaphragm may be easily replaced in case of breakage and repair. The diaphragm has cemented or otherwise secured thereto a pen operating arm 49 projecting centrally from a disk 50.

The tambour back has a screw threaded stem 51 engaged by a screw 82 for attaching the tambour to a block 52 which is pivoted at 53 to a base block 54 mounted in a hearing 55 on the tambour supporting bar 37. The block 52 carries a cam 56 and the back 42 carries a micrometer screw 57 engaging said cam. A spring 58 is suitably interposed, between the back 42 and the block 52 and tends to swing the tambour to the left in Figure 3, or in other words, the spring urges the screw into engagement with or against the cam. Hence very fine adjustment is provided for with respect to the tilting of the tambour relative to the tambour bar.

The back 42 further carries an arm 59 in which a pin 60 is adjustably held by a screw 61. The pin 60 ends in a bearing 62 in which a second pin 63 is adjustably held by another screw 64. The pins 60 and 63 are in axial alinement with the center of the tambour. The pin 63 carries a bracket 65t0 which 11 bell crank 66 is pivoted at the top at 67. A torsional flat spring 68 is secured in the split lower end of the bracket 65 by a screw 69, and the upper end of the spring is doubled and passes through the split portion 70 of the bell crank 66 on which it rests by means of a small pin 71, Fig. 8. The tension of the spring 68 may be adjusted by a screw 72 which bears against the lower end of the bell crank 66, Fig. 5.

The numeral 73 denotes a pen socket which is secured to the spring centrally thereof. As seen in Figure 7 the pen socket has a rear flatextension 74 provided with two holes '75, '75. A staple 76 has its stem 77 cut away to provide space for the spring 68, which passes through the staple stem. and a nut 78 is screwed onto the stem and clamps the pen socket firmly to the spring. This construction presents the advantage that the spring is in no wise weakened and the pen socket is easily attached and dctached. A suitable recording pen T9 is trictionally held in the socket and each pen is provided with an ink reservoir 80.

The rubber tube connections 84 for tambours 39 and 40 are bent at an angle and extend forwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The pens operated by the tainbours 40 and 41 are marked 89 and 99 respectively. Fig. 1.

The above described elements provide in a most efiicient and easily operated construction all the adjustments required for the accurate positioning of the pens before commencing operations/on the paper :2

The tilting or adjusting of the pen downwardly towards the paper is adjusted by the micrometer screw 57. The height of the tambour relative to the tambour supporting bar 37 may be adjusted by the screw 81 operable against the hearing see Figure 4. The trzinsverse swing of the tambour. that is the relative movement of the block 52 and base 54 is adjusted by the pivot screw 53.

The positioning of the pen is made by ad ju'sting the two pins 60 and 63 and the tension of the spring is adjusted by the screw 72.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10 which illustrate the wrist sphygmograph. the latter comprises a wrist tambour 85 in all respects similar to the tambours above described, except that the diaphragm carries a button 86 instead of the pen operating arm 49. The rubber tube connection 87 is provided with an exterior thread 88 engaged by a nut 90 for adjusting the position of the tambour which is carried by an arm 91 as shown. The arm is secured by a pin 92 and screw 93 to the splint 94. The latter is designed to be strapped to the wrist of the patient by straps 95, 95. To the s lint'is secured a spring tongue 96 which rises and falls with llfi the action of the pulse. The tongue carries a button 97, 98 is a cam operated by a screw 100 and is ada ted to bear against the spring tongue 96. he dotted lower position of the latter shows the normal position where not in use. A finger 103 prevents rotation of the screw 88.

Referring to Figure 1 the ticker 21 carries ,a recording pen 101 having an ink reservoir 102. Suitable receiving cups as 104, 105 and 106'; see Fig. 1, are provided, and it will further be understood that rubber tubing is supplied to connect the receiving cups and the sphygmograph to the tambours. The tubing is indicated at 107 in Figure 12.

The operation of the apparatus is known to the art and requires no detailed description. The receiving cups are placed over the part, the pulsation of which is to be investigated and recorded, care of course being taken that no communication is made with the atmosphere, and the movements within the receivers are then conveyed to the tambours and pens which then record such movements on the paper.

In investigating any movement caused by the circulation, it is necessary to record at the same time some standard event whose position in the cardiac cycle is fixed and determined. Hence it is necessary that two events he sin'iultaneously recorded, the one tobe investigated, the other the standard. The most reliable standard movement is the arterial pulse, radial and carotid. Vith the polygraph herein disclosed, these move ments may be recorded by one tambour, while another records the movement to be investigated, and still other movements, as those of the respiration, may be recorded by the third tambour. The ticker operating the time marking pen 101 vibrates at a constant speed of 300 p. m., equivalent to one fifth of a second and of course records the time element necessary for the investigation.

In using the wrist sphygmograph the splint is-strapped to the patients wrist in position to place the button 97 on the artery and adjusting the cam 98 until the best movement is obtained. Thereafter the tamhour 85 is attached by the screw 93 and the tambour adjusted by the screw 90 until the button 86 touches the spring tongue 97.

After the receivers and the sphygmograph have been placed in position, the pens are brought to zero position by opening a bypass valve 110 in the rubber tubing to re-.

lease the pressure as will be understood.

In Figurc'12 the apparatus is shown set up with the three receivers referred to.

When it is-desired to record the blood' pressure, the blood pressure recorder illustrated in Figurell may be used as an attachment to the polygraph. The recorder consists of a casing 115 secured to the bracket 35 in any suitable manner as by means 116. The zero position of the casing may be adjusted by a screw 117. An encased diaphragm 118 receives air pressure in the usual manner through a rubber tubing 107 provided with by-pass valve 110 and the movement of the diaphragm is transmitted by a compound lever device 118, 119 to the pressure recording pen 120. The lever 119 also carries a pointer 121't0 serve as an indicator upon a,small scale 122 of blood pressure from zero to 300 Hg.

A graduated printing roller 128 replaces the tension roller 31 and'is rotated as the paper is unrolled by the spring motor above described. A suitable inking mechanism 124 is securedto the bearing for inking the printing roller, which prints lines running lengthwise with the unrolling paper producing a scale reading from t) to 3520 mm. I-lg. to receive the record of the oscillating pen.

One advantage of the attachment is the length of' the blood pressure record that may be made in conjunction with a polygraphic record of the pulse and a time record of the number of pulse beats per minute together with the blood pressure record which may vary with respect to the time record.

Fig. 12 illustrates the blood pressure recorder connected to the usual physicians cuff, armlet or wristlet 125.

In Figure 1 the numerals 126 indicate ink bottles suitably, supported and 127 is a post for a reserve paper roll.

It should of course be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the exact disclosure herein with respect to the details of construction of the apparatus. Thus, for instance. I may use an electric or other motor in place of the spring motor and the arrangement of the several parts may be va' ried. Other details may .be changed and altered within the legitimate and intended scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In an apparatus of the character described, a tambour comprising a' cylindrical disk forming an air chamber to the one side thereof and having an outer annular groove on the cylindrical surface of said disk, a diaphragm of yielding material for closing said air chamber, said diaphragm material extending in over the said cylindrical surface and a ring member adapted to enclose and frictionally engage the said cylindrical surface of the said disk, said ring having an interior annular bead adapted to engage the said groove and to depress the diaphragm material therein to close said air chamber airtight for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a recording mechanism comprising a roll of paper, a recording pen, a tambour for operating said pen to make a record on the paper, and means for adjusting said llt) tambpur and pen to insure vertical alinement of the pen With respect to the said paper.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a recording mechanism comprising roll of paper, a plurality of recording pens, a plurality of tambours for individually operating said pens to make records on the paper and means for individually adjustin,-; said tambours and pens to insure vertical alinement of the pens with respect to the said paper.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of record receiving means, recording members, tambours for operating the latter to make records on the said receiving means, means for adjusting said tambours to insure vertical alinement of the said recording members with respect to the said record receiving means and means for adjusting the recording members laterally in diflerent planes with respect to the said tambours.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a recording pen, a tambour for operating the same, a bracketadjustably mounted on the tambour, a. pen

supporting torsional spring mounted in said bracket and means interposed between the latter and the said spring for adjusting the tension of the spring.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a recording pen. a tambour for operating said pen, means for supporting said tan'ibour. means for adjust ing the position of said tambour in a vertical plane, a bracket mounted on said tambour, abell crank pivoted on said bracket, a

torsional spring supported on said bell tion, a member for holding said pen, meansfor securing said member to the said spring comprising a staple passing through said member and adapted to receive the said spring and a nut engaging the said member for clamping the spring thereto.

' 8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting member having an extension forming a cam, a recording pen operating tambour pivoted on said supporting member, an adjusting screw carried by said tambour and adapted to engage the'said cam for adjusting the position of the said tambour relative to the said supporting member and a spring for keeping the said screw in engagement with the said cam.

9. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of record receiving paper, a pen for recording on said paper, a tambour for operating said pen, a receiving cup adapted to be applied at the place the pulsation of which is to be recorded, a tubing for connecting said cup and tambour and a valve in said tubing for releasing the air pressure therein to place said pen in zero position at the beginning of the record.

CHARLES E. DRESSLER. 

